We checked and all nearby hotels (including airbnb) look expensive.
What is the secret to staying on the budget when visiting your kid?
Please share any leads.
Thank you
Visit during non-peak times. Move in, Parent’s Weekend, Graduation, and Thanksgiving are all typically 2.5x more expensive. Motel 6 at a non-peak time is $98. You’ll pay well over $200 during the weeks listed above. The rest of the hotels that aren’t flea bags are even more.
If you’re willing to drive a half hour each way, you can find places on Airbnb for around $50 in towns like Nipomo. That’s where I stayed for 5 days around Open House.
There are indeed hotels/motels in town and nearby that do not show up on websites like trivago, expedia, etc etc. The EZ8 in Pismo Beach is “budget” but at least a 15 minute drive to Poly. The Motel 6 on Los Osos Valley Road / Calle Joaquin is usually 65 bux a night but it varies I’m guessing. It’s just outside of SLO proper.
As Eyemgh said, non-Cal Poly event days are cheaper, but many SLO hotels in general are surprisingly pricey for my taste. We like to visit when Cal Poly is not having a big event. Sunday through Thursday are a little cheaper in SLO, but those days might not be convenient to visit your student. Sometimes we’ve had to look as far as Morro Bay (a favorite), Paso Robles and Pismo and had good luck; they may not be cheaper but oftentimes we can get a room if SLO is booked or too expensive. Plus it has been fun visiting the nearby communities. A few times, we’ve been able to get a room at the last minute (1-2 days ahead or on the day of arrival); maybe there were cancellations? I check and call a lot of hotels to compare prices and rooms.